2024-07-16
22 reads
Blog Posts
Modifying sp_QuickieStore Returned Column Order
I love QuickieStore, but I wanted some columns to be at the front end of the results returned. Namely, I wanted top_waits, query_sql_text, and query_plan right after database name....
2024-07-15 (first published: 2024-07-03)
310 reads
Query Store Keeps Switching Itself Off, Getting it Moving Again
I recently received a complaint that Query Store for a particular database was turned off, which was strange as that particular database has seen quite a few performance issues...
2024-07-15 (first published: 2024-07-04)
751 reads
Risk with Not Patching and Upgrading SQL Server
Working with SQL Server over the past 25 years for various organizations all over the world, I usually always find a database server that is well outside of support....
2024-07-15
44 reads
A New Word: Fitching
fitching – v. intr. compulsively turning away from works of art you find frustratingly, nauseatingly good – wanting to shut off the film and leave the theater, or devour...
2024-07-12
35 reads
Data Technology Learning Resources
Hey all! Quick one here. Tracy Boggiano, awesome person that she is, has put together an interesting collection of data over on GitHub. It’s titled DBA Resources, but it...
2024-07-12 (first published: 2024-06-27)
219 reads
Take the SQL Saturday Topic Survey
What topics do you want to see presented at a future SQL Saturday (or other event)? Steve Rezhener has built a survey that you can take. Take the survey...
2024-07-12 (first published: 2024-06-25)
93 reads
How to Create a Beautiful and Functional Site for Your WordPress Meetup Group
Taking advantage of our free site offer for your WordPress community? Here are some new templates you can use.
2024-07-11
30 reads
Create a copy of an Azure SQL DB
Where I work, we will be migrating data from one set of databases into another. I will be making a copy of the destination databases to allow us to...
2024-07-10 (first published: 2024-06-25)
380 reads
Exploring Windows Function Execution Plans
There are quite a few different ways that you’re likely to see windows functions evidence themselves within your execution plan. Let’s take a look at one example. Windows Function...
2024-07-10 (first published: 2024-06-24)
279 reads
Blogs
Microsoft announces new cybersecurity AI multi-model
By Brian Kelley
Yesterday, July 27, 2026, Microsoft announced a new cybersecurity effort called Project Perception. Included...
Getting the SQL Server MCP Server Running
By Steve Jones
If you’ve wanted a SQL Server MCP server for your databases, it’s available. The...
Introducing azsql-migration-test: Test and Validate Azure SQL Database Migrations
Introducing azsql-migration-test, a small open-source CLI that validates your Azure SQL Database migrations against...
Forums
Symmetric Key Encryption
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Symmetric Key Encryption
The “Successful Login” Dilemma: Why Your Login Auditing Strategy Might Be Hurting Your Server
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The “Successful Login” Dilemma: Why...
Building Your Own Software
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Building Your Own Software
Question of the Day
Symmetric Key Encryption
If I run this statement in SQL Server 2025, how is the password encrypted?
CREATE SYMMETRIC KEY MySymmetricKey WITH ALGORITHM = AES_256, KEY_SOURCE = 'My secret key source passphrase', IDENTITY_VALUE = 'My secret identity value' ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = 'S&perS#cretP@ssword7'; GOSee possible answers